RV Home Yet?

That *#@&! convection oven

So you have an RV with a convection oven and your recipes are failing. How about a simple conversion chart to help you with the recipes you have?

Basically, think 25%. Reduce your cooking time by 25% (divide the existing cooking time by four and subtract). Also, reduce your cooking temperature by 25 degrees.

It's simple. Give it a try. Check out my cookbook I've Got a Convection Oven in My RV. Now What? co-authored with my friend and chef Andrea "Mama" Laudate. It's available as a downloadable eBook you can print yourself or on CD. Enjoy!

My RVing New Years Resolutions

Today is New Years Eve so it seems to be a good time to think about what I'd like my RV lifestyle to look like for next year. Here are mine.

1. Travel fewer miles and get to know an area before moving on. We plan to stay in the Four-Corners area instead of RV across the U.S.
2. Get rid of extra stuff and papers - a perennial challenge!
3. Visit Canyon de Chelly and Chaco Canyon.
4. Explore and spend time on creative hobbies.
5. Live each day fully with appreciation.

What are yours? Let us know in the comment section.

Christmas in Tucson

This year we spent Christmas in Tucson, AZ with George's in-laws. They live on the east side off the Catalina Highway which leads up to Mt. Lemmon. The area is scenic with houses spread out. The desert around Tucson is being gobbled up, but not quite as noticeably here - yet. The property owner who owns the land heading up into the mountains will probably hold her land until she dies so there is some respite from houses looking down into their yard.

It also means we could hike up to a ridge with nice views. One neighbor  started out with a trail to the first hill and named that "martini" ridge. A leveled out area with rocks makes a nice place to watch the sunset and enjoy a drink - if you choose to carry one that far through all the prickly stuff! He has since extended the trail up the steep slope to a higher vantage point. George and I wished we'd brought our hiking sticks along; there were some slippery spots. The plants looked healthy after an inch of rain earlier in the month. Maybe this will be a good year for spring wildflowers.

When you are visiting friends or relatives you usually get included in their activities. On Christmas eve we went to an open house in a lovely home. Their yard wasn't very large but they had three alpacas. We were told that last year they came in the house! They were originally 4H projects and now the kids take them to nursing homes, often dressing them in costume, much to the delight of the residents.

Last year, Mary Pat told us, they had a Mexican appetizer buffet so we didn't eat dinner. This year? Lots of desserts - yummy, but not quite a meal. By the time we left no restaurants were open in our end of town so dinner was grilled cheese sandwiches. Mary Pat wields a mean skillet!

Before leaving town, we stopped at one of our favorite Tucson places - the  17th Street Market near the downtown. They carry lots of international foods so it is fun just to browse the shelves. Turns out, though, they had few of the ingredients we needed to make tamales. We got together with friends a few days later and made three varieties. Two were from the tamales we made at the cooking school we attended while in Santa Fe, NM. The third was a green corn recipe that Sue brought. All three were delicious. We got most of the ingredients at a Hispanic market and a Bashas supermarket; in Tucson, international must not mean Hispanic!

Photos by George.

Wine tasting

  One of the days I was visiting my son we drove out Dry Creek Valley in the Healdsburg area. Healdsburg is north of Napa (and Santa Rosa) and has numerous wineries. Jenny, my son's girlfriend, worked for several wineries in the past so she was an excellent guide.

We first stopped at Ferrari-Carano vineyards and winery because of the beauty of the grounds and building. They actually have several vineyards scattered throughout the area. See their Web site for a photo of the building. It is quite elegant, inside and out. We looked rather than tasted at this one and wandered in the lovely gardens. (Photo of Jenny, my grandson, Chris and son, Jim by the bronze of a wild boar with a lucky nose.)

At the other end of the spectrum was Preston of Dry Creek Winery and Vineyards. This is an organic family farm with a focus on sustainable land use. Besides wine they offer organic  olive oil, delicious fresh bread and organic vegetables in season. Their rustic winery is decorated with pictures of their animals. Their "Christmas tree" was decorated with "udders" made of water-filled disposable, clear medical gloves tied with red ribbons, interspersed with photos of their cows, goats and sheep!

We did taste wine here and Jenny knew all the questions to ask. We did purchase a couple of bottles of L. Preston, their special blend wine, and a bottle of jug table wine. (Pouring jug wine pictured below.)

The vineyards are bare this time of year, but as I drove through Napa Valley and Dry Creek Valley, I did   see workers tending to the vineyards. There must be something to do all year long.

One thing I haven't figured out is how do you select and find wineries out of all the dozens there are in the area. In Napa, going up Hwy 29 and Silverado Valley, there is one after another. Some are well known, others strictly local. Other areas of Sonoma County like Healdsburg have many more. You could go from winery to winery for days and not taste them all. I'll have to ask Jenny.

One wine tasting was plenty for me. I did enjoy the beauty of the drive and seeing the variety of architecture wineries choose. Some are quite the mansions; others are simple, family-run operations. This may be one gorgeous area that is protected from wall-to-wall development since wine brings tourists and money to the region. That would be nice!

Calistoga mud baths

Last week I flew to the Napa/Santa Rosa area to see my son and family. It is, unfortunately, cheaper to fly than drive your RV nowadays.

I stayed the first two nights at an old Victorian bed and breakfast in Napa- Churchill Manor. My sister had a certificate for a two-night stay but hadn't been able to use it. Since I wouldn't be able to get together with my son until the weekend, I went up a couple of days early. The hosts were gracious and I enjoyed a soak in my clawfooted bathtub!

Whenever we are in this area, we try to schedule a mud bath in Calistoga. George hadn't come with me, so instead I met a friend, Nancy, who had volunteered at Big Bend National Park opposite George and lives in the area. After lunch at the Calistoga Inn, we went to Golden Haven Spa for our appointment.

I originally went to Golden Haven because they usually have Internet specials. They have rooms with two tubs (some with three) so couples can do a mud bath treatment together. There are quite a few spas offering treatments in Calistoga; apparently not all are the same according to Nancy. Golden Haven has a mud bath/jaccuzi/warm blanket wrap that lasts an hour that is so relaxing. You could get a massage or other services too, but after an hour, I could go to sleep right there! I've been to Golden Haven for a mud bath four times, now.

The mud is squishy. You have to work your way into it. After you are situated, the attendant slathers a mask onto your face and cover your eyes with a cool cloth. The mud gets hotter the deeper you get so be cautious. Pictured is George last spring when we were there. For some reason, the photos the attendant took this trip did not turn out.

After about 10 minutes in the mud, you step out, wash off all the mud, then slide into a jaccuzi. Iced  lemon water to drink helps you cool off a bit. That is followed by a blanket wrap. The lights are low and soft music plays. Afterwards you can shower off. The whole treatment lasts about an hour. You can see how relaxed we are after! (above)

The drive between Napa and Calistoga takes you through scenic countryside past many wineries. I took Silverado Drive up the east side of the vally and Hwy 29 on the west side back to Napa.

This whole area - particularly going out to Bodega Bay on the coast - is dairy country. A farm just outside Napa has two breeds of unusual cattle: Belted Galloway beef cattle and Dutch Belted dairy cattle.

I highly recommend a mud bath - especially if you've never had one.

RV parks aren't real common in the area. If you are a member of the Elks, they have a small RV park in Napa and one in Petaluma. We've stayed in both. We also stayed along the Russian River northwest of Santa Rosa at River Bend RV Park in Forestville. It wasn't looking its best as it had recently been flooded, but I'm sure it has recuperated now. Check your RV park directory for others. It's easier to park your RV and drive your tow vehicle or toad. Jaimie

Quartzsite - RV There Yet?

Quartzsite (the regulars call it “Q”) is a phenomenon. Drive by I-10 in July and you’ll see a sleepy desert community. Come in January and February, it’s a teeming metropolis  of more than a million rigs. Several buildings and a giant tent contain the larger exhibits, but the charm of Q is the spectacle of small vendors who set up their tented booths to sell everything you need for your RV and more.

Products range from solar panels for your roof down to the replacement bulbs for your bathroom lights. Clothing, housewares, gadgets, tools, beading and rock polishing supplies are available. There’s an old saying that if you can’t find it in Quartzsite, it hasn’t been invented yet.

When you are tired of shopping,  you can follow your special interests: music, square and round dancing, crafts, card playing. Explore the back roads in your four wheelers, go birding at the Wildlife Sanctuary near Blythe, go hiking, climbing, bicycling. When you get tired of all of that, meet your friends for potlucks or at local restaurants.

Even if you don’t have an RV yet, stay in a motel in nearby Blythe. Camp in a regular campground or park on the public BLM (Bureau of Land Management) lands, free for 14 days. One photo shows Stephanie Bernhagen camped at Q with all of us. To stay for the season, camp on the long-term lands for minimal cost. See Chamber of Commerce Calendar for all activities.

Jaimie and I have both written about Q for Road Trip America. Check out our columns for lots of links.  See Jaimie’s column and Alice's column.

Are you still reading this? Aren't you getting packed to go yet?

Happy travels,

Alice

RVs from China

I happened to see an article about the iCamps, an RV assembled in China and now sold in the U.S. According to the manufacturer, United Recreational Vehicles, LLC:

"The products we offer to the US market are high quality and conform to all US Federal and States Government requirements for RVs. The products are also inspected by professional inspection team from RVIA and bear the RVIA seals."

The iCamp Elite offers a full bathroom, queen-size bed, AC and an optional heater. There is also an iPod plug in! While probably not a rig for full-time RVing, it could be good for weekend camping and vacations.

The iCamp Lite is a pop-up trailer with fewer amenities. Both come in a choice of colors. You can read more at their Web site and find a U.S. dealer.

Apparently they haven't generated a lot of interest yet, but will be on display at some of the larger, upcoming RV shows. The next one is the big Tampa, FL Super Show January 15-20. Unfortunately I will miss Tampa RV show - the Workamper Job Fair in nearby Lakeland is the week before (Jan 10-11). According to an article in the Tucson Register (registration required for viewing), the iCamp Elite ranges in price from $14,500 to $16,500.

If the Chinese can produce a quality RV for a low price it could put pressure on U.S. manufacturers. Let me know what you think if you see and go in one!

RV travel - a way to avoid germs!

I flew to the Napa/Santa Rosa area today to visit my son and family before Christmas. Though I got a deal on the plane fare from Phoenix ($109 each way), I'm wishing I'd taken my RV. I just read about and then watched a shocking video about the lack of cleanliness at hotels. It shows three different hotels where housekeeping cleaned the glasses in the room - and I use cleaned loosely. In one case, the maid had on the very gloves she was wearing moments before when she cleaned the toilet! In no case were the glasses washed in hot, soapy water or a dishwasher.

Several years ago, Sixty Minutes or a similar show did a segment on the bedspreads in hotels. They are rarely cleaned or washed so you can imagine what might be on them. A friend of mine now takes her own sheet to use in and on hotel beds as a result of watching that.

When you travel in your own RV you know your glasses have been washed in hot, soapy water and the linens are clean. And it is certainly more relaxing than travel by plane. Instead of staying in a hotel or right in the same house with relatives, you have privacy and your usual bed and comfy chair.

Sometimes it makes sense to fly, particularly when you have time constraints and the cost of fuel is so high. But I'm planning to do most of my family visiting in the future by RV.

Celebrating the Holidays

As a Jewish RVer, I'm used to traveling. After all, Jews spent 40 years in the Sinai Desert after they left Egypt. But I have to plan ahead to celebrate the holidays. Hanukkah is always a challenge because it often gets lost in the Christmas fervor. One year I forgot to buy the special candles that fit in the menorah when I was in a larger metropolitan area . Instead I had to use tiny birthdy candles, the only ones available. It was okay except that I had to sit with them the whole time making sure they didn't fall out of the menorah. Another year, I happened upon a small congregation outside of Prescott, Ariz. and celebrated with them. For two years at Jojoba, two other women and I organized Hanukkah dinner for 160 people that included entertainment. We all had a great time. A number of volunteers spent hours frying enough potato latkes to feed the crowd.

This year I celebrated Hanukkah with old friends in Los Angeles. We lit the Hanukkah candles, sang Hanukkah songs, ate the traditional potato pancakes (latkes) along with lots of other foods, had a gift exchange. This group is an extended family that has been celebrating and learning together for 25 years. Hanukkah is a great time for children. All of ours are grown now, but we did have a token grandchild from two of the members.

What is the meaning of Hanukkah?

Hanukkah is the celebration of freedom of religion and the Festival of Lights. During one period of Syrian rule, the Jews were no longer allowed to worship their own religion and the Syrians tried to destroy the Temple. Judah Maccabee led a group of volunteers (called the Maccabees) who fought and defeated the Syrians. When the priests tried to cleanse the Temple after the battle, they discovered they only had one flask of sacred oil,  enough for just one day.

But at the dedication, the oil burned miraculously for eight full days and nights. Thus each year we light the menorah for eight nights to remind us of the miracle of the oil. Each night we add another candle so that at the end all eight candles are burning, including the one in the middle known as the shamus, which is used to light the other candles.

What is the symbolic meaning?

The holiday comes in midwinter, a time of prevailing darkness. The light from the candles helps illuminate the darkness just as the headdress of lights in the Scandinavian tradition, the luminarias in the Mexican tradition, and of course the Christmas lights. Some people consider the light as a symbolic meaning to light our way through the darkness of pain and war and prejudice, or just as a way for individuals to bring lightness into their own lives.

How do you spell Hanukkah?

This seems to be the preferred American spelling as found on Hallmark cards, but you’ll see Chanukah, Chanuka, Hanukah, etc.

What about the foods?

To remember the oil, traditional Hanukkah foods are cooked in oil. Potato pancakes (latkes) are the traditional treat made by the  European Jews (the ancestors of most Jews who had emigrated to the United States). The Jews of Israel and the Near East celebrate with jelly donuts that are cooked in oil.

Here's a recipe for latkes:

2 cups grated raw potatoes (measure after draining)

2 eggs, well beaten

1 tsp salt

1 heaping Tbs flour or matzah meal

pinch of baking powder

1 onion grated

Combine all ingredients and mix thoroughly. Drop by tablespoons into a hot skillet generously greased with oil. Fry both sides until golden brown. Enjoy!

Will RVers lose open WiFi access?

The House of Representatives in Congress passed the SAFE ACT on Wednesday that could bring severe penalties to providers of open WiFi access if certain types of material are transmitted over their network. While the sponsor of the bill denies he meant to include individuals, that could be the affect.

Keep in mind this bill must pass both House and Senate and be signed into law. At this point, only one house has approved it.

If it passes, it could make RV parks, truck stops, coffee shops and libraries - places RVers often use to pick up an Internet signal when traveling- decide to stop making their signal available.

Should RVers who now allow other RVers pick up their WiFi signal stop doing so? At this point there is no worry unless the bill passes. Then the courts will have to decide exactly what it means. That could take years. Read more here about the bill.

George and I have satellite Internet but we do often rely on WiFi in RV parks as we travel, particularly if we are only staying for one night. It is easier to use theirs than set up our dish. We also found several places in the East where trees blocked our view to the southern sky and we could not get a signal. In that case, we did look for signals at a library or coffee shop if the park did not have WiFi. It would make travel less convenient if we couldn't do this or always had to pay for access.

We do keep our personal WiFi secured, perferring to give out the password if we know the person or become friendly with a neighbor. With satellite Internet you do have to worry about the Fair Access policy. If neighbors are downloading large files, you can get shut off. We prefer to keep control.

We'll have to wait and see what happens in this arena and whether it does impact RVers as they travel.